You’ve heard all the buzz about shea and cocoa butter, but there’s another plant-powered ingredient that is quietly stealing the spotlight. Meet bacuri butter: a rich, nutrient-dense haircare ingredient that’s quickly becoming a favourite in natural haircare circles. 

It’s a deeply nourishing, surprisingly lightweight ingredient. Find out exactly why your hair (and scalp) will thank you for using bacuri butter-infused formulations.

What is bacuri butter?

Bacuri butter is derived from the seeds of the Platonia insignis tree, native to the lush Amazon rainforest. It’s traditionally used across the region for both skin and hair, due to its deeply restorative benefits.

Unlike the pale, creamy texture of shea or cocoa butter, bacuri butter has a distinctive, deep brown colour. It’s rich, earthy, and melts beautifully into skin and hair without leaving a heavy residue. Once a well-kept local secret, bacuri butter is now included in sustainable skincare and haircare formulations.

What makes bacuri butter special?

It might be the colour that catches your eye initially, but it’s what makes up the ingredient that makes it so well-loved. It has a unique nutrient profile, brimming with:

• Fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, palmitoleic acids) – help replenish lost moisture.
• Amino acids – the building blocks of keratin, the protein that makes up hair; they keep hair strong and are involved in its growth and repair. 
• Antioxidants – help protect against pollution and UV damage from free radicals.

Unlike some heavier ingredients and natural butters, bacuri absorbs quickly, leaving your hair soft and silky, not greasy. It’s perfect for anyone who craves some intense hydration, without hair feeling heavy.

As this ingredient can be harvested from wild-growing trees by local communities, we thought that it was about time we upcycled bacuri butter into one of our formulations. 

Bacuri butter benefits for hair

Whether your hair is dry, damaged, or simply needs a little bit of TLC, bacuri butter delivers on all fronts. See why you should use this natural ingredient in your haircare routine.

 

 

1. Deep hydration and moisture lock-in

Bacuri butter is rich in essential fatty acids that work to seal in moisture and smooth the hair cuticle. It’s particularly beneficial for curly, coily, or dry hair types that crave some extra nourishment, keeping hair soft and hydrated.

2. Strengthens weak or damaged strands

As bacuri butter is full of natural amino acids, it helps to strengthen and support your strands. Adding a protein boost to your hair, the amino acids in bacuri butter help reinforce strands, reduce breakage, and support new growth by creating a healthier environment from root to tip.

3. Boosts natural shine and smoothness

Bacuri butter adds a subtle, glossy sheen without needing to add any synthetic silicones. Its rich texture helps to tame flyaways and tackle frizz, while enhancing your hair’s natural definition.

4. Soothes and balances the scalp

The key to thick, healthy locks starts at your scalp – believe it or not! Flakiness, itchiness, thinning hair, and dry hair all start with your scalp. Remember, a healthy scalp leads to happy hair! With its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, bacuri butter can help calm any irritation and flakiness, while supporting a balanced scalp microbiome. 

5. Protects from environmental damage

Daily exposure to the sun, pollution, and repeated heat styling can weaken and damage your hair over time. The antioxidants in bacuri butter act like a protective shield against free radicals, helping to maintain elasticity and strength.

Bacuri butter vs shea butter: what’s the difference?

Both bacuri and shea butter are rich, plant-based ingredients that have earned their place in natural beauty routines – for both hair and skin.

Shea butter is rich in vitamins A and E, and helps to create a protective barrier that locks in moisture. That makes it a great option for very dry, coarse or curly hair types, or as a nourishing mask when your strands need extra love. One thing to note is that it can sometimes feel heavier, especially on fine hair.

 

 

On the other hand, bacuri butter is packed with amino acids and antioxidants that support hair strength and repair. Despite its richness, it absorbs surprisingly quickly, leaving hair soft, smooth, and never greasy. It’s ideal for those who want hydration without weight, or for anyone with a dry, irritated scalp.

In short, shea butter is the go-to for deep moisture and protection, while bacuri butter offers lightweight nourishment and added repair benefits. Both are natural, sustainable, and packed with goodness.

Upcycling bacuri butter for hair

Knowing everything we do about bacuri butter, we thought it would be the perfect ingredient to include in our Scalp + Hair Oil. The formulation is made with upcycled bacuri butter to deliver targeted nourishment, hydration and scalp support for healthier, stronger hair.

We think it’s important that you know where the ingredients in our products come from. The bacuri butter we upcycle into our Scalp + Hair Oil is sustainably sourced from Brazil, extracted from the seeds of the bacuri fruit.

 

 

The fruit pulp is traditionally used to make juices, sweets and ice cream – and the seeds are typically discarded. We upcycle these seeds and give them a new lease of life as the nourishing, vitamin-rich butter that’s in our Oil.

The process begins with the careful collection of bacuri seeds, which are then dried, filtered and cold-pressed to extract the butter. The final step involves gentle refinement to preserve the ingredient’s natural benefits, while ensuring a smooth, high-quality texture.

 

 

Packed with vitamins and minerals, bacuri butter encourages optimal conditions for better hair growth. The rich, buttery texture provides lasting moisture to dry or brittle hair, and helps restore shine, softness and overall hair vitality.

How to use

Apply a generous amount of the Scalp + Hair Oil directly onto hair, focusing on the scalp, roots and ends. Gently massage with your fingertips for two to five minutes to stimulate microcirculation and nourish the scalp. Leave the oil on for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes, or overnight for an intensive treatment. Wash and style as usual. Use once or twice a week. 

For an extra boost, lightly mist your hair with water before applying the oil. This helps the oil form a protective barrier around each hair strand, locking in moisture and supporting elasticity. This ensures hair stays nourished, resilient, and beautifully soft.

Want a more in-depth guide? See our blog on How to Use Hair Oil.

Discover our full range of natural haircare at UpCircle.